Derek R. Dexter

Derek Richard Dexter, Sterling Heights, Michigan
On Wednesday May 1 2024, Derek experienced the best moment of his life and we experienced the worst moment of ours when, at 6:08 pm, his heart simply stopped beating. He is now experiencing eternity while we are grieving. We are not sad for him. Our mourning is for ourselves for all the moments we won't have his smile and his hugs and his help.
Derek was born in Carson City Michigan on December 28, 1968. He graduated from Carson City-Crystal High School in 1987 and Michigan Technological University in 1992. In the Summer of 1991, he met his soulmate, Kelli, at Camp Living Waters in Luther Michigan. Within 6 weeks, they were engaged and they were married the next summer. During their 31 year marriage, they were blessed with three beautiful children: Kaylee Alexandria Raulston (Chris), Nathaniel Grant Torrey Dexter, and Maximus Daniel Charles Dexter, and two amazing grandchildren: Silas Christopher Sandow Raulston and Soli Deo Gloria Raulston. He is also survived by his bonus parents, Hugh Grant and Rosalie Green, his brothers Fred Hargett (Kay) and Bob Hargett (Linda). He was preceded in death by his parents Stephen Torrey Dexter Jr, Shirley Ann Gooding and his brother Stephen Torrey Dexter III.
Derek's family went far beyond blood relatives and are far too numerous to name here. He had many moms and dads, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, because he loved people - pretty much everyone he met. And what he loved most was helping people. He was "acts of service" personified. Everyone that knows him has a story to tell about something he had done for them.
Besides loving his family and helping people, Derek's other passion was running. He was proud of his 2:59:57 marathon PR and his 16:54 5K PR, both achieved after age 40. The older he got, the faster he got. He also loved watching Kaylee dance, Nate dive, and Max swim. Derek and Kelli enjoyed traveling and just being together. The quote above their bed summarizes their relationship: "This is true love. Do you think this happens every day?"
Visitation Sunday from 2:00 -5:00 pm and Monday from 12:00 pm until the time of the Funeral Service 1:00 pm at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 8459 Hall Road (3 Blks E. of Van Dyke) Utica.Please share a memory at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com